Exit stage left

It is approximately one hour from the start of the last of six “Beauty and the Beast” performances at Worthington’s Memorial Auditorium. I am clad in mismatching socks, olive green dress slacks, a red/blue/sort-of-gold vest and white shirt, plus makeup that makes me look like — as fellow cast member Colin O’Donnell has described — “a 65-year-old man with liver problems.” I’m more or less ready to take the stage once more and will soon grab the white wig that projects a certain kind of combined Albert Einstein/Bea Arthur vibe, shortly before the curtain rises. There’s no reason to don that thing any earlier.

I wrote a blog several weeks ago about getting involved in Worthington’s community musical, so I’ll try not to rehash any of that essay here. Instead, I’ll just try to reflect on what it has been like to be involved in my first theater production in 14 years. In short, it’s been an amazing ride.

When I attended my first rehearsal, my thoughts were mixed somewhere between “This is an enormous cast” to “How are we going to put all of this together?” to “Did I think about exactly what I’m getting myself into?” Those thoughts quickly subsided, but they all came back in a flurry when I returned from a week-long vacation heading into the final week of July. With less than two weeks remaining before opening night, there was so much to accomplish —both on a personal level as well as those of an entire cast and crew.

I must admit to a few feelings of regret during the beginning of that first full week of evening rehearsals. Between missing out on time with my wife and kids and the long nights at the auditorium, I occasionally yearned for a way out even though I knew there was to be no turning back. But then, as the show — and the entire group of amazing folks involved with the production — started to come together, I began to get excited about being a part of it, not to mention our performing it before a live audience.

Along that journey, it was reinforced to me just how awesome community theater is. People of all ages, from all walks of life, all take part in a single, seemingly overwhelming project that ultimately brings satisfaction to many (and, of course, ourselves). The folks with “Beauty” are no exception. For instance, we have Swetha Tunuguntla, an incoming Prairie Elementary fourth-grader who was born in India and is one of the many elementary-age youths in the production. Nobles County Attorney Gordon Moore is in the show, as is each of his three children (there are a number of “family acts” involved). There are numerous middle school, high school and college-age individuals involved, not to mention instructors at different educational levels. I could, unsurprisingly, go on.

And, in about three hours or so from now, that journey will conclude as we take our bows for the last time. As a cast, we’ve been blown away by all the positive word of mouth “Beauty and the Beast” has received, and the growing and appreciate crowds. I think we’ve each also come to be proud of the amount of talent in this community, and the people who have shown so much support for it. I know that I like to think that, in some small degree, we’ve helped bring Worthington (and some of our nearby cities) just a little bit closer together. And, on another short personal note, it’s been extremely rewarding to be a part of a show that will no doubt be remembered my children for a long, long time.

I know I’ll never forget playing “Crazy old Maurice,” either, not to mention all my remarkable co-stars, musical director Kerry Johnson (thanks with your patience with me learning my song!) and director Jason Olson, who has proven both patient with and encouraging toward our 60-person cast while firing up each night with some inspired — and unique — chanting.  Shout-outs must also go to Kay Prunty (choreography), Judie Johnson (costumes and more) and Jacob Forstein (technical director) for all their work, as well as a special nod to my “daughter,” Melissa Remme, who played a wonderful Belle and never failed to be supportive of my acting and singing efforts. And Eric Parrish — you beast — you are mad talented.

I hereby bow before each and every one of you.